African decorations will brighten any room and are so different from what’s usually put on display that immediately you have created interest and a talking point.

African décor is about natural elements like timber and stone mixed with the colors found in nature: reds, browns and greens.

Many items have strong heritage and cultural backgrounds besides being great decorating pieces.

Create a focal point and keeping it simple

Owing to African tribal art using bright and contrasting color, you have striking visual focused positions or highlights that lead the eye from entry to a point that you want to be the main focus.

The difficult part may be tying all the splashes of color and shape together.

This is an important part of interior design.

You don’t want to end up with harsh contrast between colors and end up making a room or wall too cluttered with shapes that create disharmony.

If you use the relationship of colors on an artist’s color-wheel, you can easily select hues that complement each other or contrast within the same color range. Sculptures or masks may have to be tried in various areas and positions until you get that effect that pleases the eye.

For instance, although 2 masks may look great together while lying on the table, once they’re on the wall, they may look just a little odd. One on its own may be the way to go, or two different size masks, even at odd angles.

Similarly with items like djembe drums and leather.

Keep shifting them until you have a look and feel that is comfortable.

The larger the room, the larger the items can be and so with a small room.

Plain color sofas can get a huge lift with Batik design cushion covers but make sure that the cushion color picks up on one of the other minor colors in the room in the same way that picture framers often select a frame color from one of the lesser colors in a painting. If you pick a design that features one of the main colors from your existing room design, the overall effect will be too strong in that particular color. Using one of the lesser colors is a way of getting everything in the room or on the wall to work together.

Now, often overlooked as far as Africa goes is Egypt.

Egypt of the Pharoahs.

Yes, I know Ancient Egypt has nothing to do with African Masks and Message Drums, but their culture was unique and there are lots of great interior ideas to built around artifacts of Egyptian furniture from this part of Africa like this Three Heads of Tutankhamen Topped Table.
Just because they’re a little different from the norm.

In an off white room with light colored carpet and some striking oil painting hang above the Palace of Ramses Egyptian Occasional Table, you’d get quite an effect.

These are just a couple of furniture ideas that appealed to my sense of design adventure.

Today, authentic African Masks are highly sought after by art collectors and museums.
Using carved African masks in interior design will create a strong feature so won’t necessarily work well used in areas that are design busy or cluttered with lots of small articles. They make a statement on their own and will not necessarily integrate into for example, French drawing room décor or such.
But you can use African masks in many, many ways.

There are many African decorations that can add harmony or contrast.

From ultra modern, minimalist layouts to cosy, study like décor.
Imaging a wide, white expanse of wall with a strong, colorful mask, centered and under a single spotlight. Or a quite corner of a study, with a small collection of masks to highlight a bookcase or trophy.
A few very small masks, grouped within a family photo wall, can add humor and interest.
Place a single mask on an empty, pastel shade wall and you suddenly change the look and atmosphere of the whole room with this type of focal point.

Entry foyers of offices, restaurants, games rooms and living rooms can all enjoy the drama that the primitive aspect of an African Art Mask or furniture such as this African Fang Mask Accent Table from Ghana will bring to its surroundings.
Selection of a mask needs to be precise for size, so that it doesn’t overpower surrounding furniture and displays, and for color so as not to clash with furnishings.

Paler masks will disappear if placed in proximity with areas that already contain lots of small, highly colored items or on walls that are busy with many other small fittings.
The larger the room or area, the larger and more colorful mask can be used, but remember a small room with a large, strong mask will become even smaller in feel, so go for lesser size masks. You don’t want the mask to completely take over.
Have a look at the variety of African masks and many other unique décor items available at XXX design. You’ll be surprised at the number of unusual themes that are possible using African Art to highlight otherwise forgotten spaces.

Africa has a long history with art, dating back more than 500 years BC with different styles coming from different regions.

The Nana Dadzie sculpture, a free standing very strong statement.

Angular sculpture from West Africa and broader shapes from the Mende culture.

Most sculptures are of the human body or head, representing someone living or possibly ancestor. Strong features, not always well defined, but broad strokes as a representative image.

With dark colored timber and often angular shapes, good use of sculpture can be made with wall hangings just inside a doorway as a welcoming image or a free standing piece set on low furniture to emphasize lack of clutter and simplicity in room décor.

Similarly as with African Masks, a single sculpture, set against a white wall, will make a striking feature.

Of course, African drums are well known. They have featured in probably every movie about Africa.

What you rarely see though are the intricate and colorful designs that go into making the drum more than just a message machine or ancient mobile phone. Animals, carvings, weaving; they all make up part of the Djembe Drum’s contribution to African Art.

Place a Djembe drum anywhere and it will make a fine statement. As a bedside table, fascinating piece in the entry hall, or among juniors drum set. Djembe drums are always welcome.

Walking Canes

African Walking Canes are a piece of African art that is often overlooked. These days they are purely for arts sake, but their history is more interesting.

Since there were very few roads, no vehicles and long distances to travel, African walking sticks or canes were a means of support and a weapon.

In a country so wild, a walking stick was a primary means of defense when travelling.

Nowadays, with carved animals as the head or handle, intricate staffs and exotic timbers, walking canes can be added to masks, djembe drums or sculpture hangings to add interest or be used to simply break up large wall areas that are too expansive for a single decorative piece.

Consider a piece of sculpture with 2 walking canes, either together on one side of the sculpture or one each side. A very different look from the normal practice of a framed print or photograph.

African home decor is a world apart from what most interior designers will normally use.